Airplane cleaning and polishing machine



G. HABIAN AIRPLANE CLEANING AND POLISHING MACHINE J1 me 23, 1953 3 SheetsSheet l Filed'Aug. 13, 1949 INVENTOR. GEORGE 'l/AB/AN ATTORNEYS June 23, 1953 HABlAN AIRPLANE CLEANING AND POLISHING MACHINE 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Aug. 13, 1949 GEORGE HABIAN ATTORNEYS June 23, 1953 G. HABIA N 2,642,599

AIRPLANE CLEANING AND POLISHING MACHINE Filed Aug. 13, 1949 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 INVENTOR. GEORGE HA BIA N 12mm 1 5M ATTORNEYS Patented June 23, 1953 .AIRPLAN E AND POLISHIN V MACHINE 1 V George Habian, Manhasset, N. Y.

Application August 13, 1949, Serial No. 110,081

. 7 Claims. 1

This invention relates to an aircraft cleaning and polishing machinespecifically designed for cleaning and polishing the exterior metal surfaces of aircraft, although the machine is applicable to cleaning automobiles and other structures where such machines are commonly used. Objects-of the invention are to provide a device of the character described, the use of which -as more fully set forth herein-will improve the appearance of the surface to which the device is applied, expedite'the cleaning and polishing thereof, and reduce the man hours of extending portion [9. partially surrounding the brush or buffer l8 and forming part of or se-' cured to said portion I9 are the arms 20, 2| supporting a handle 22. The frame is widened out to receive the brush as best seen in- Fig. 2.

Locatedbelow handle 22 so as to bewithin reach' of the fingers of the hand embracing handle 22 is a trigger 23 controlling the air 'valve labor and cost thereof as compared with known devices.

Other objects and advantages will be apparent from the following specification, and drawings wherein by way of "illustration is shown a preferred embodiment of the invention particularly well suited for use in cleaning and polishing the exterior of aircraft. It will be understood, however, that this disclosure is merely illustrative and is not limitative, as many changes in the details of the device can be made without departing from the invention as defined by the appended claims.

In the accompanying drawings: Fig; 1 is a side elevational view of the device embodying theinvention.

Fig. 2 is a plan viewof the device Fig. 1 looking down on the top of same- Fig. 3 is-an end view of the device shown inthe preceding figures.

Referring to: Fig. 1, the numeral I denotes a metal frame forming a casing or housing in or upon whichis supported all parts of the device so that same forms a unit structure complete with handles, control valves, rotating brush or buffer and the necessary means for adjusting the brush or buffer to the work. I This structure also carries the air-hose connection H for the driving motor and the connection I2 for liquid supply to the brush.

Formed integrally with frame I 0 or secured thereto in any suitable manner is a yoke or handle support l3 carrying between its arms the handle l4 secured thereto, in any suitable manner.

Mounted in the ears I5 projecting from the frame is a'movable trigger l6 which may be easily operated by the fingers of the user's hand embracing handle 14. I This trigger controls a valve IT in the liquid supply pipe l2 to admit liquid to the brush or buffer I8 when desired. The'frame; I0 is flared outwardly at its front end and to form a forwardly and upwardly 24 located in the supply pipe 25 extending from the air hose connection H to the driving motor 26, andlocated within the motor casing. This trigger is supported in ears 23a projecting from frame 10, the flange of pipe 25 or the motor 26. The cylindrical motor 26 is mounted any suitable manner and may be supported on pillowblocks 2'], 28 secured toor forming part of the frame. It. The motor is held in said blocks by caps 29, 30, and by loosening. the caps, the

motormay be adjusted transverse the frame j H) to properly position the driving pulley 3| thereof in respect to the driven pulley 32 se-' cured to shaft 3 3 of the brush; this also permits the motor to be readily removed for and repair. 1 The shaft 33 is mounted in suitable bearings 34,- 35 supported in the downwardly extending side walls 36, 31 of frame 10.

' A belt 38 extends between the pulleys 3|,' 32

and an auxiliary removable casing or cover 39 is secured to the frame I!) in any suitable manner as'by screws 40, 4|, 42 permits the easy inspectionand replacement of the belt. 7

Extending from the frame [0 are the elongated bosses '43, 43a, 44, Moi-one pair on each" side of the device. These bosses each have an elongated aperture such as 45 (Fig. 1') to re-,

ceive the shafts 46, 46a of two sets of the adjusting rollers 47, 41a which may have rubber faces, said rollers being located between the yokes 48, 48a, to which the ends of said shafts are secured. The shafts may turn in the yokes to permit the rollers to revolve freely, or the rollers may be secured to the shafts and the latter turn in bearingsin the yoke. If desired. the rollers 41a for example, may comprise a core 471) (Fig. 3) and the rollerproper is formed of a plurality of rubber sections of larger diameter than the core. I 7

If preferred each roller may be made upfof a plurality of individual rubber-tired rollers, in which event the coreflb becomes a, plurality of spacers between the rollers.

Extending between the yokes isa bar 49 which extends through 44 of the bosses.

examination slots 50,in the side walls 43,,

to the work surface 55 such as the exterior sur face of an airplane, can be adjusted.

The nut 55 is provided for lockingthe ease of this necessary adjustment is one of the objects of this invention.

the as.- sembly just described, in adjusted position, and;

Communicating with the liquid supply valve I! is a pipe shown in dotted lines at 51 (Fig.

1) to conduct liquid to the sprayhead 58' overlying to the surface of brush l8. This sprayhead; has a. line of perforations of. the usual character at 58a, as commonly employed-in such devices and the liquid under pressure in 58 is discharged onto the brush I8 and applied. to the work surface 55 thereby.

By the provision of handles l4 and 22 at. right angles; to each other and at opposite ends of the device, handling of same is greatly facilitated, the rollers 41, 41a. supporting the weight of the machine on the Work surface 55. By slightly rocking or tipping the device toward the brush end, using rollers 41a as a fulcrum, the pressure applied by brush is to the work can be varied within limits determined by the setting of rollers 41, 41a, thus allowing the operator some latitude in applying the device to the work independently of the setting; of rollers 41', 41a. Howeverpsaid rollers define and limit the normal operation of the device, as they determine the maximum pressure than can be applied to the work when the device is evenly pressed thereagainst. This feature of the: operator having alimited control of the brush is another object attained by this invention.

Bybrush in this specification is meant any rotatable member of bristles, felt, rubber or other cleaning, polishing or abrasive 'material'; for

' brevity the term brush in the appended claims is used to describe. any rotating element at,-l8.;

It will be'noted that brush l8 projects freely in front of frame [0. This enables the brush to be used in round corners where Wings join bodies, etc., in airplanes. The handle 22 is also setback of the brush. so that when the latter is run up to a vertical wall, the users hand on this handle will not strike the wall.

Cleaning operation With the proper brush installed in the machine, liquid polish, which is supplied from a remote source, is forced under pressurethrough thevalve I! mounted beneath the handle l6. Upon releasing the flow of polish through the operation of the trigger I6 the liquid polish through pipe 5! flows to the sprayhead 58 where it isejected through orifices in the sprayhead 58 and is deposited on the rotating brush I;8 which is powered by the air motor 26. The brush [8. applies the liquid polish to the surface of the metal. which is to be cleaned.

The amount of liquid polish. is governed by its release or stoppage through the action of the trigger 5.

The air motor 26 is powered by compressed air, the source of which is remote. This compressed air, fed through a hose, passes through a quick connecting plug I l. The air then passes through an interconnecting tube to a valve 24 which is controlled by a lever 23 through the action of the thumb at the forward handle 22 of the machine. a

Polishing operation ..,When a metal-,surfacehas been: cleaned, it requires theremoval of the dried polish. For this operation the cleaning brush I8 is removed, and

in its place the proper brush for polishing is installed. The hose, which connects to the vale fifliis 'removed',- sihce it is, not required for the polishing operation.

The hose supplying the compressed air remains attached to the quick disconnect plug H. The operation of the machine is identical to that used in the cleaning operation, only that liquid polish is not used.

The machine merely goes over those areas that metal surface. This adjustment also dampensates for brush wear.

While an air motor has been shown at 26 it is obvious that any other form ofmotor may be used. If an electricmotoris" used, the connection I l becomes'a plug, and the valve 24' aswijtch both connected to the motor in' the 'usual mann'er. 'All such modifications are obvious and deemed to be within the scope of the appended claims.

-What'-is claimed is:

1'. 'In a device of the character described, a frame, a brush rotatably supported in the front part of said frame and extending partially belowthe bottom edge thereof to engagea worksurface, drivingmeans including amotor carried by said frame for rotating said brush, apair'of shafts extending across said frame and positioned therein rearwardly of said brush, rollers carried by said shafts and adapted to engage a work surface, means mounted on said frame above. said shafts for simultaneously adjusting saidshafts and the rollers thereon whereby the application of saidbrush tothe work surface may be adjusted, a handle secured to said device, means. for applying liquid to said brush including, a liquid 'supply' pipe positioned to' supply liquid to 'saidbrush in a direction perpendicular to, the axis thereof to wet said brush before it contacts the worksurface,-and a valve in said pipe located adjacent said handle for operation by the users hand thereon without releasingsaid handle and while said device is in operation.

2. In a device of the character described, a frame; a brush rotatably supported in the front end of said frame and extending partially below the bottom edges thereof to engage a work-surface, driving means including a motor carried by said frame for rotating said brush; a .pairof shafts extending'across said frame and posi'e tioned thereon rearwardly of said brush, rollersabove. said shafts for simultaneously adjusting both said shafts and the rollers thereon whereby the application of said brush to the work-surface may be adjusted, a handle secured to said frame, control means for said motor located adjacent said handle for operation by the users hand thereon without releasing said handle and while said device is in operation, means including a liquid supply pipe in said frame for supplying liquid to said brush, a second handle secured to said frame and a valve in said pipe located adjacent said last handle for operation by the users hand thereon without releasing said handle and while said device is in operation.

3. In a device of the character described, a frame, a rotatable brush in said frame adapted to contact a work-surface below said frame, a

pair of shafts extending across said frame and positioned thereon rearwardly of said brush, rollers carried by said shafts and adapted to engage a work surface, and means mounted on said frame above said shafts for simultaneously adjusting both said shafts and the rollers thereon whereby the application of said brush to the work surface may be adjusted, a handle secured to said frame and having its axis lying in a plane at an angle to said surface and projecting to the rear of said frame, a second handle secured to said frame and spaced apart from said first handle and having its axis parallel to the plane of said surface, a motor forrotating said brush carried by said frame, a pipe having a valve therein for supplying liquid to said brush, and control means adjacent said first handle for controlling said valve.

4. In a device of the class described, a substantially U-shaped frame having an outwardly flared front end having side walls, a rotary brush mounted in said flared end, and having bearings in said side walls thereof, a sprayhead located within said frame and overlying the surface of said brush and adapted to discharge liquid on said brush in a direction perpendicular to the axis thereof whereby said brush is wet by said liquid before contact with the work surface, a motor having a shaft parallel to the axis of said brush supported on said frame at the rear of said brush, a belt connecting said shaft and brush, an auxiliary casing secured tosaid frame and enclosing said belt, means for controlling said motor and means for controlling the flow of liquid to said sprayhead both said means being mounted on said frame, and handles on said frame adjacent both said means whereby either of said means can be operated independently of the other and without the user removing his hands from the handles.

' 5. In a device of the class described, a substantially U-shaped frame having a pair of elongated downwardly extended bosses on each leg thereof, said bosses having vertically aligned elongated apertures therein, a yoke extending along the outside surface of each side of said frame to overlie said bosses thereon, shafts extending through said apertures and secured to said yokes, rollers on said shafts between the downwardly extending legs of said frame, a bar extending between said yokes, and secured thereto and extending through elongated apertures in said downwardly extending legs of said frame, a vertical shaft extending upwardly from said bar and projecting through the upper wall of said frame, means associated with said last shaft and frame for vertically adjusting said shaft relative to said frame and thereby vertically adjusting said yokes and rollers, a rotatable brush mounted in the forward end of said frame forward of said shafts and rollers and means for rotating said brush.

6. The combination as claimed in claim 5 wherein each of said shafts extending through said apertures in said bosses carries a plurality of rollers, each of which is independently revolvable, and has a rubber-face for contact with a work surface.

7. In a device of the character described, a

- framework forming a chamber having an open bottom and end, a brush revolvably mounted in the open end of said chamber and substantially closing same, valved means carried on said frame for supplying said brush with liquid including a member adjacent the path of travel of said brush to emit liquid to impinge thereon in a direction perpendicular to the axis thereof whereby said brush is wet by a liquid before it contacts a work surface, a motor mounted on said framework and connected to said brush to drive the same, control means for said motor, a pair of shafts extending across said frame and positioned thereon rearwardly of said brush, rollers carried by said shafts and adapted to engage a work surface, and means mounted on said frame above said shafts for simultaneously adjusting both said shafts and the rollers thereon whereby the application of said brush to the work surface may be adjusted, and handles projecting upwardly from said framework at opposite ends thereof.

GEORGE HABIAN.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 893,488 Hall July 14, 1908 1,536,615 Majusick May 5, 1925 1,816,054 Pelkey July 28, 1931 1,881,129 Peek Oct. 4, 1932 1,904,974 Hoover Apr. 18, 1933 1,991,794 Outright Feb. 19, 1935 2,069,700 Emmons Feb. 2, 1937 2,247,970 Smith July 1, 1941 2,277,236 Kneisley Mar. 24, 1942 2,323,082 Ballard June 29, 1943 2,454,650 Harris Nov. 23, 1948 

